Live Well Financial bets big on tech

Whether they’re buying a car or refinancing a house, consumers want immediate information about their transaction at their fingertips. Acutely aware that mortgage shopping is no different, Live Well Financial is bankrolling a major upgrade in its lending platform in a bid to create a better, faster more automated experience for its customers and its originators.

Fall Brings Price Drops for a Quarter of Homes

With inventory starting to inch up, sellers are facing stiffer competition in the market and adjusting their price expectations, according to a new report.

Homeowners Reveal Their Top Nonnegotiable Amenities

Find out which home features are deal breakers—and which aren’t—for your clients.

Brokerage Funds Sanctuary for Pets Affected by Florence

A North Carolina real estate firm has organized an initiative to house cats and dogs who were abandoned or surrendered during the storm.

Study: Homes Appreciate Faster in Disaster-Prone Areas

Cities with high risks of natural hazards, such as flooding, hurricanes, and wildfires, continue to attract home buyers, according to a new report.

Rising Mortgage Costs Remain Below 2006-07 Peak

The typical mortgage payment nationwide in June rose 15.1 percent year over year, according to CoreLogic.

Vinyl or Stucco? Most Popular Exteriors for New Homes

Take a look at this map to see the exterior finish that is dominating in your market.

Monday Morning Cup of Coffee: Driverless cars set to disrupt real estate

Emerging tech is going to disrupt the mortgage market for years to come. Whether its blockchain or bitcoin, just about everywhere you look there are predictions that show change will be coming fast. This is a new one, though.

Capital Economics: Interest rates expected to climb much higher in 2019

Rising interest rates are predicted to slow consumption and investment growth in 2019, according to the latest U.S. economics data from Capital Economics. This spike in market interest rates is already contributing to higher borrowing costs for households and businesses.

Fiserv Lending Solutions rebranding as Sagent Lending Technologies

Earlier this year, Fiserv sold more than half of its mortgage servicing business to private equity firm Warburg Pincus for $395 million. The plan was for the companies to operate the servicing business, called Fiserv Lending Solutions, as a joint venture. And that’s still the case, although the joint venture won’t carry Fiserv’s name anymore.